Footsteps in the Dark [Import] [Paperback]

Georgette Heyer (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Arrow Books; New Ed edition (1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0586067035
• ISBN-13: 978-0586067031
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,936,967 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Author of over fifty books, Georgette Heyer is the best-known and best-loved of all historical novelists, making the Regency period her own. Her first novel, "The Black Moth," published in 1921, was written at the age of fifteen to amuse her convalescent brother; her last was My Lord John. Although most famous for her historical novels, she also wrote eleven detective stories. Georgette Heyer died in 1974 at the age of seventy-one.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

89 of 92 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars English haunted house meets Oscar Wilde (again), March 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Footsteps in the Dark (Library Binding)

Georgette Heyer is known mainly for her Regency romances rather than her mysteries, probably because she wrote more of them. Although all of her mysteries are good--and witty--Footsteps In The Dark seems to be the only one where Heyer went for outright comedy. There are chills enough in this tale of five people (husband-and-wife, two siblings, and an aunt) who have moved to what seems to be a haunted house, but there are some extremely funny moments as well. (There is one line in the book--which I will not quote--which sent me rolling on the floor for fully five minutes. You'll know when you reach it.)

Enjoy.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shall we retire to the country?, July 17, 2007

By 

Nash Black "Troubadour" (Jamestown, KY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Footsteps in the Dark (Paperback)

Their inheritance had all the aspects of an ancient country home including the resident ghost. Learning to live the peaceful country life brings anything, but repose. Georgette Heyer's, "Footsteps in the Dark" with its conventional, but welldrawn characters will have you laughing outloud when following her crisp dialogue.
Clues and red herrings bounce down hidden staircases and mouldering crypts as Heyer, at her very best, leads the reader through a labyrinth of mystery and suspense interspersed with a light romance. First written in 1932, it still has the power to enthrall. If you've ever dreamed of an old house in the country, this one has all the aspects of reality without electricity or a phone. A great read at any time, but we don't recommend by lamplight.
Nash Black, author of "Qualifying Laps" and "Sins of the Fathers."

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Footsteps in the Dark, June 19, 2009

By 

Chapati (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Footsteps in the Dark (Paperback)

It's funny sometimes, how books packed with so much excitement and memorable characters can just sit placidly on your shelf, waiting to be read. Footsteps in the Dark is a thriller mystery of the first order, complete with secret passageways, priest holes, skeletons and a cowled monk. Of all Heyer's historicals, it reminds me most of The Reluctant Widow (one of my absolute favorites!) with its full cast of characters, most of whom are related to each other. The book is full of hilarious one-liners and wonderful character interplay, Heyer's trademark. I find in books like this that I get so wrapped up in the chemistry between characters that the plot becomes secondary. It's unfortunate that character interaction is so hard to review, really, since it is such an integral part of books. In Footsteps in the Dark, the characters (Charles in particular, playing against Peter) all deal splendidly together, and the book is a great romp because of it.

I am thoroughly enjoying rediscovering Heyer, this time from the perspective of reading her mysteries set in Britain between the wars (if you haven't read her Regencies, you should!). She is light-hearted and fun, but the plots are all interesting and well planned. I prefer this one to Behold, Here's Poison, mainly because the characters are far more likeable and the plot develops in a more compelling way. Highly recommended!